Automatic change-box loom



Aug. 1938. 5, vos 2,126,064

AUTOMATIC CHANGE BOX LOOM Filed Jan. 16, 1931 Aug. 9, 1938. s. VOSE AUTOMATIC CHANGE BOX LOOM Filed Jan. 16 1951 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 9, 1938.. L a V E 2,126,064

AUTOMATIC. CHANGE BOX LOOM Filed Jan. 16, 1931 Sheets-Sheet 3 AUTOMATIC CHANGE BOX LOOM Filed Jan. 16, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 9, 1938. v Law 2,126,064

' I AUTOMATIC CHANGE BOX LOOM Filed Jan. 16, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 9, 1938., I L, V S 2,126,064

AUTOMATIC CHANGE BOX LOOM Filed Jan. 16, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet SZVO-MH @W Patented Aug. 9, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oFncE Lewis S. Vose, Needham,

Mass, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 16, 1931, Serial No. 509,206

29 Claims.

The invention has relation to looms, and in particular to automatic looms of the shuttlechanging class in which the working supply of weft or filling on the lay is replenished through automatic replacement of the shuttle containing the filling which has become substantially exhausted or otherwise defective in taking part in the weaving, by a fresh. shuttle containing an adequate supply of filling previously installed in and threaded into the shuttle and in readiness to continue the weaving.

The principal object of the invention is to make possible the application of the shuttlechanging principle of automatic filling-replenishi ment to the weaving of fabrics into which filling of different twists, colors, or other characteristics are woven at intervals in accordance with a predetermined plan to produce a texture or pattern which depends on the difference between the several kinds or colors of filling. The weaving of such fabrics involving the changing of the filling at frequent and predetermined intervals is accomplished in practically all instances, except in hand looms, through the use of changebox looms in which a plurality of shuttles are carried on the lay, each in a definite and fixed relationship and containing filling of a different twist, color or other characteristic and each as- V suming its Working relation with the common shuttle-race in its proper turn as determined by i the pattern being woven. To effect the necessary renewal of filling which has become substantially exhausted or otherwise defective, each shuttle on the lay must be replaced or replenished with a fresh supply of filling of corresponding twist,

color, or other characteristic.

In the automatic weaving of certain fabrics, such as fine silks, short pieces of thread or weft ends are likely to be drawn into the shed when the replenishment is effected by means of bobbin changing. Also, when this type of replenishment is employed the tension of the first pick to be laid by the shuttle after transfer is sometimes too slack, resulting in an uneven pick of filling extending across the cloth. When the depleted shuttle is exchanged for a fresh shuttle having a full supply of weft on the other hand the defects just mentioned do not exist because the outgoing shuttle will ordinarily pull the weft extending therefrom to the adjacent selvage out of the path of the shuttle next to be picked, and the shuttle eye is of course threaded before being placed in the magazine. For these reasons shuttle changers possess certain advantages which make them desirable in theautomatic weaving of very fine fabrics.

1 To apply the shuttle-changing principle of v automatic filling-replenishment to the weaving of fabrics of the character described requiring the periodic use of filling of different twists, colors or other characteristics, the invention provides a plurality of shuttle-magazines each holding in reserve shuttles containing supplies of filling of a like characteristic. It provides means for preventing delivery of a shuttle from more than one of such magazines at'the time when a filling replenishing action is called for by the condition of the working filling supply. It provides means for selecting the one magazine out of the several magazines containing the character of filling like that which is momentarily working on the lay, and for releasing a single shuttle from that selected magazine when replenishment of this filling-supply is found to be needed. It further provides for receiving the thus selected and released shuttle by a conveying device common to all the magazines and thereafter transferring the shuttle into the shuttlebox on the lay. It further provides for accomplishing the above without utilizing in any way the motion of the lay, the releasing of the selected shuttle and its transfer to the lay being accomplished through other means while the lay is at rest.

Other objects of the invention are as will appear in the following description, and the invention further consists in the novel and improved arrangements and combination of parts, contrived to attain these objects, which are shown in the accompanying drawings and set forth in the specification and claims.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention as applied to a typical shifting-shuttle-box loom is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which latter,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of certain portions of a shifting-shuttle-box loom with the devices of the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a plan view on a larger scale of a portion of the lay and the shuttle-box in which filling replenishment is effected, together with the magazines and certain portions of the shuttledelivering and transferring devices and their actuating means.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2 viewed from the right-hand end of the lay.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the magazines and the delivering and transferring devices together with certain of their actuating means, viewed from the left side.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on a larger scale, on line 5--5, of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the magazine frame as viewed from the right-hand end, showing the operating connections for the selector mechanism and the carrier.

Fig. '7 is a view in horizontal section on line 1-1, of Fig. 5, showing the relationship of the selector and escapement device, when in readiness to deliver a shuttle from the front magazine.

Fig. 8 is a view in horizontal section on line 8-8, of Fig. 5, showing the normal idle or resting position of the conveyor and carrier and the arrangement of the carrier to actuate the escapement devices.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. '7 showing the selector and escapement devices in the act of delivering a shuttle from the rear magazine.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the relation of the conveyor and carrier in effecting the delivery and receiving a shuttle from the rear magazine.

Fig. 11 shows the means for actuating the selector mechanism from the box-motion.

At l is indicated the breast-beam, at 3 the frame, and at 5 the lay, of a typical shiftingshuttle-box loom. The shifting-shuttle-boxes I are arranged as usual to slide up and down in guides '9 on the lay to bring one or other of the two shifting-shuttle-boxes or cells of the particular loom illustrated into. level with the shuttlerace II. The customary box-rod I3 is connected to the bottom of the shuttle-boxes I and is actuated up and down by means of a give-Way link 15 attached to the bottom of the rod and to the forward end of a lever H which is lifted and lowered in accordance with the pattern mechanism through any well-known or desired means not necessary to be described herein. The usual change-shaft 23 extends across the loom from the driving mechanisms at the left-hand side thereof (not shown), the change-shaft 23 and the said driving mechanisms forming a part of the well-known Stafford shuttle-changing mech anism such as is shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 945,722, granted January 4, 1910, to S. S. Jackson, to which patent reference may be had for a complete description of operation and of the parts of such mechanism not shown and described herein. Upon this change-shaft 23 are mounted the cams 25 which impart motion to the conveyor 21 when replenishment of filling is called for by the mechanism for detecting substantial exhaustion or other deficiency of the filling, which may be either a filling-feeler or a weft-fork, both of which devices are well-known and widely used for the purpose. The filling-feeler mechanism controlling the action of the loom is indicated generally at 29 and may be of any suitable and well-known construction such for instance as that disclosed in the patent to Hollins #l,130,598, issued March 2, 1915. As is well-known, the filling-feeler or other weft-detecting mechanism acts to stop the loom upon deficiency of filling, and to put in action the train of mechanism recited in the above named patent. The change-shaft 23 performs one complete rotation, and one of the cam-surfaces at 25 moves the conveyor 21 first forward a slight distance to receive a shuttle from the magazines and then rearward to inject the shuttle into the shuttle-box 3| (Fig. 3) at the plain end of the lay 5 after the front-plate 33 has" been raised by means of the lever 35 and connection 31 linking it to a lever 38 (Fig. 1) actuated by a cam 40 on the change-shaft 23, and after the rising front-plate has struck and rocked the lever 39 to cause the tongue 4| upon such lever to eject the shuttle containing the deficient filling-supply from the shuttle-box 3|. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) The tongues push the depleted shuttle forwardly toward the magazine to be described hereinafter, and the empty shuttle moves downwardly and forwardly in front of the lay into a receptacle shown in Fig. 1, as shown in the aforesaid patent to Jackson. The shuttle-receiving head of the conveyor 21 is provided with two fingers 43 (Fig. 5) upon which the shuttle is carried with a slow and gentle movement, the shuttle coming to rest in contact with the swell in the back wall of the shuttle-box, and the front-plate, which has already descended sufficiently to enable the tongue 4| to be withdrawn from within the shuttle-box, descends farther to hold the shuttle within the box whilethe conveyor is moving forwardly into its normal resting position. The head of the conveyor is formed with shoulders 45 (Fig. 8) at the forward terminus of the fingers 43 for positioning and steadying the shuttle during the transfer. 7

In accordance with the invention, there is combined with this known structure a plurality of magazines or hoppers or chutes, of a proper number to accord with the number of shiftingshuttle-boxes and hence with the number of shuttles carrying filling of different color or characteristics for which the loom may be designed. The illustrated loom having two shifting-shuttleboxes or cells, there are two magazines 41 and 49 (Figs. 7 and 9), each defining an area corresponding to a cross-section of a shuttle appropriate for the loom, deep enough to hold two or more shuttles, made in skeleton form for lightness, and having an opening 5! (Fig. 2) extending from top to bottom in the forward side of each to provide for leading out the end of filling from each shuttle and securing it to a suitable end-holding device or pin 54, the opening being made wide enough to admit the weavers fingers in inserting and removing shuttles. This arrangement makes it possible to lead the ends forward from the shuttle-eyes to the pin without their having to be passed through between the shuttles and avoids their being chafed in two thereby as a result of the shuttles vibration in the running of the loom. Each magazine is made of three sections, the two shorter ones, 53 and 55, being fixed upon the third, 59, at 51. The third section 59 is bolted to the magazine end-frames 6| at 63, being provided with angular flanges for the purpose. Thus the third sections, 59, serve to space and tie together the end-walls or heads 6| of the magazine, dispensing with the need for a greater number of tie-rods or other spacing elements, this elimination of parts, together with the construction of the parts 53, 55, and 59 of aluminum, serving to reduce the difficulty of mounting the structure so that it will not vibrate off from the loom owing to heavy weight. The ends of each magazine are left open for a considerable extent up from the bottom, to give access of the selector and escapement devices to the ends of the bottom shuttle and the one next above it in each magazine, and to enable these devices to control delivery from each magazine.

The magazine end-frames 6| are mounted respectively on the end of the breast-beam I and on a leg 69 extending up from the floor, by suitshuttle-boxes I.

able bolts H which enter inturned flanges on the end-frames 6|. Tie-rods l3 (Fig. 1) help to hold the end-frames in rigid and properly spaced relation.

To confine the delivery of a shuttle to a single magazine at the time when the weft-detecting devices act to call for replenishment of filling, and toselect the magazine containing the proper color or character of filling to replace that found to be deficient, no matter which of the several filling-supplies on the lay shall first become deficient, so that the predetermined pattern may continue to be woven, selector mechanism is provided operated from the box lifter lever ll. Herein this is effected by the use of fingers 15, Fig. 5, fixed upon rockshafts Tl mounted in lugs 19 on the rearward sides of the magazines, two fingers being used on each rockshaft. These fin- .gers reach in under each magazine to engage the bottom shuttle therein at each end near its point, and thus to prevent the shuttle from dropping and hence from being delivered from the magazine. To shift .the ability to effect delivery from one magazine to another, in proper accordance with the pattern, in other words, to

select the proper magazine for the next delivery end of the lever l! which is vibrated through the box motion not shown to shift the box-rod l3 and boxes 7. This rockshaft is connected by a link 81 with an arm 89, Fig. 4, fixed on the rearward one of the rockshafts 'l'l carrying the fingers 15. These connections include a slotted arm 5H, Figs. 1 and 6, fixed on the rockshaft and connectedby a pin 90 to the end of an arm 92 forming a part of a collar 93 clamped upon the link 81, the pin 99 being fixed in the slot of arm 9! with capacity for adjustment to vary roughly the throw imparted to arm 89. This arrangement serves to transmit vertical movement to the link 8'! in exact relation to the shifts of the The arm 89 is also slotted as indicated at 95, and the eyed upper end of the link is connected to a bolt intended to be represented at 91 as capable of being adjustably posltioned at the proper point in the slot to give the exact necessary amount of movement to the rockshafts H and thus to the fingers 15 of each magazine. Since there are but two of the shifting-shuttle-boxes or cells T in the loom shown, it is only necessary to alternate the relation of the fingers 15 of the two corresponding magazines in such manner that when the bottom shuttle of one is upheld by the fingers 75 of that magazine the fingers. 15 of the other magazine will be withdrawn from under the bottom shuttle of that latter magazine, which is that magazine containing the same kind of filling as the running shuttle. This is simply accomplished by fixing arms 99 and IE1! (Fig. 4) respectively on the two rockshafts ll, slotting their overlapping ends, and connecting such ends by a pin Hi3 adjustably fixed in the slot of one and sliding freely in the slot of the other. Thus the rockshafts ll are given equal but opposite angular movements each time the box-rod i3 is moved tov shift the boxes, and the delivery is synchronously shifted from one magazine to the other. In

the case of looms employing more than two cells in the shifting-shuttle-boxes, the approattain the desired end of preventing delivery from all but one of the magazines at a time.

To effect delivery of a single shuttle containing filling of the character or color selected by the selector mechanism just described, there are provided escapement devices in connection with each magazine. The function of these escapement devices is to release the bottom shuttle in the selected magazine and turn it over to the transferring devices for transfer to the lay, in proper timed relation with the other parts involved in accomplishing the replenishing action, and their function includes as well the prevention of the escape or delivery of more than one shuttle at a time from the selected magazine. One of these escapement devices is located at each end of each magazine, and they comprise respectively a short rockshaft I05 (Fig. 5) journalled vertically in a bearing lm in connection with the brackets m9 applied to the interior face of each magazine end-frame 6! by bolts ill, the rockshaft having a shoulder seating on top of the bearing and being provided with a long arm H3 (Fig. 9) below the bearing I ill and a short arm H5 above the bearing, fixed on the rockshaft with capacity for adjustment of their relative spaced and angular relation by means of clamping screws Ill. The vertical spaced relation between these two arms is adjustable to correspond to the height of the shuttle designed to be used in the magazine, and the angular relation is such that when the end of the long arm H3 is swung into the position shown in Fig. 7, beneath the end portion of the shuttle the short upper arm H5 will be at one side of the stackedup shuttles; but when the rockshaft I05 is rocked to carry the long arm I I3 out from under the bottom shuttle, as shown in connection with the rear magazine at the upper portion of Fig. 9, and thus leaves the bottom shuttle free to drop from the magazine, the short arm H5 will be entered between the tapered end portions of the bottom shuttle and the one next above it to prevent descent of the Shuttles above the bottom one which has thus been delivered. As the rockshaft M95 returns to its original position the shuttle resting on the upper arm H5 settles down on to-the lower arm H3 and: thus in turn assumes the delivery position at the bottom of the magazine, the superposed shuttle or shuttles descending accordingly. These escapement devices, as stated, are located one at each end of the magazine and are operated simultaneously, and hence the shuttles are lowered in perfectly horizontal relation. The entering edges H4 and Mt; respectively of the broadened shuttle-supporting ends of the arms H3 and H5 are thinned as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, to facilitate their entry beneath the shuttles.

The conveyor 2'! takes the shuttle thus released from the selected magazine and transfore it to the shuttle-box at the plain end of the lay. While in certain instances it is contemplated delivering the shuttle directly to the conveyor 27 as in the case of the patent referred to, in other cases it is more practicable to employ an intermediate transferring member to receive and preferably also to effect the delivery of the shuttle, and turn it over to the conveyor 21. This is for the reason that in the majority of looms the conveyor 21 or equivalent transferring member is so low in its travel when it arrives in line with the forward edge of the breast-beam that the shuttles of magazines other than that nearest the lay would have to descend below the breast-beam in reaching the head of the conveyor, While the shuttle-box and other devices on the lay as well as the breast-beam would require to be rearranged if it is desired to position the magazines out beyond the end of the breast-beam as would be necessary to clear the latter in the descent of the shuttle on to the conveyor. Thus, with the object of adapting the invention to use upon existing looms with the minimum change in the organization of the latter, and solely for practical reasons the invention provides a carrier IIS, Fig. 8, having at A each end a portion I2I, Fig. 4, which slides. freely in a track I23, Figs. 1 and 5, formed on the interior surface of each magazine end-frame iii, the track being inclined downwardly and rearardly so that the path of the carrier in sliding rearward along such track will intercept the arc of travel of the conveyor 21, and so that in its forward movement there will be rapid divergence of the respective paths of the carrier and conveyor, permitting the latter to pass the carrier and assume a position nearer the front of the loom, without disturbing a shuttle which may be held by the carrier. The carrier is intended to serve all of the magazines in common and thus the track I23 is made long enough to permit the necessary travel of the carrier back and forth beneath the entire series of magazines. The carrier is provided with fingers I25 (Fig. 10) to receive and support the shuttle when the carrier is beneath the selected magazine and a shuttle is released therefrom, such fingers being upturned at their forward end and bolted to the carrier at I 27, in the present instance with capacity for vertical adjustment with respect to the carrier, so as to arrange for proper interception of the shuttle by the conveyor. End-stops I 29 are provided at each end to engage the points of the shuttle and keep it from lengthwise displacement during the transfer. To actuate the carrier the portions I2I at each end are equipped with studs I3I (Fig. 4) which extend out through a slot I33 in each end-frame SI and through slots l35 in the lower ends of actuating levers I31 fixed on a rockshaft I39 driven by a crank MI and link I43, (see Fig. 6), from a cranked lever I55 which turns on a fixed center I41 and is actuated downwardly by a cam M9 on the change-shaft 23 and a follower I5I adjustably mounted on the cranked lever, which latter provides one easy means of varying the throw of the carrier. A spring I53 is applied to the upstanding portion I55 of the lever serving to actuate the parts reversely and to hold the follower up to the cam. By this arrangement, only the frontward movement of the carrier is positive while the movement in the direction of the lay is yielding, so that in the event of a jam caused by Wrong delivery of a shuttle the results will not be injurious to the transferring devices or the shuttle. A slot I42 in the arm I 4! provides for adjustment of the length of travel of the carrier, while the mounting of the camfollower I 5| in a lengthwise slot in lever M5 provides for adjustment of the timing of'the carriers movement.

Through the use of the carrier I I9 as an intermediate transferring member, there is avoided the necessity of dropping the shuttles below the level of the breast-beam in delivering them from the magazines to the conveyor 21. There is also avoided the need to drop the shuttles through any great distance when delivering from the magazines other than that one nearest the lay, so that the chance of the delivered shuttle rebounding out of its desired position'upon the carrier is reduced to a minimum. The magazines are arranged with their bottoms at equal heights above the inclined path of the carrier, just enough space being left between such magazines with their selector devices and the carrier to permit the rearward passage of a shuttle when carried by the carrier. Thus, the magazines are arranged in progressively ascending relation in a direction toward the front of the loom. While the carrier travels in a path inclined downwardly and rearwardly, it is to be noted that the supporting fingers I25 are slanted slightly upwardly as regards their extent rearward to cause the shuttle to settle back against the vertical abutment or face I51 (Fig. 5) as the shuttle is borne rearward and downward, and also that the shuttle-positioning face I57 extending across the width of the carrier is disposed substantially at right angles to the fingers I25. Thus the fingers 43 are enabled to pass freely beneath the shuttle on the carrier without danger of their rearward extremities engaging with the shuttle bottom and thrusting it off to escape from both transferring members.

The release of the bottom shuttle from the selected magazine and its delivery onto the fingers I 25 of the carrier are conveniently effected in the present instance through the movement of the carrier itself. Thus, the lateral extremities of the carrier H9 are formed with cams I59, Figs. 8 and 10, which in the forward travel of the carrier engage the convex portions I SI of rockers I 53 fixed on the rockshaft I05 which carry the arms H3 and H5 forming parts of the escapement devices. Thus the cam I59 at each end of the carrier serves to rotate the arms H3 and H5 at its proper end of each magazine in turn, into the position which releases the bottom shuttle, shown in Fig. 9, as the carrier passes successively beneath each magazine. When the cam-follower comprised by the portion I6I is off the cam, a spring I55 attached to the opposite end of the rocker I53, moves the arms H3 and I l5 back into the position of Fig. '7, in which the long arm H3 supports the bottom shuttle. From this arrangement, it will be seen that the movement of the carrier works the escapement devices including the arms H3 and H5 at each end of each magazine as the carrier is passing forwardly under each magazine in turn; it has been stated that the selector fingers 1 5 permit delivery from one magazine only and uphold the bottom shuttle of the other magazine or magazines in accordance with the specific shuttle which is working on the lay. Thus, while the carrier works the escapement devices of all the magazines, and tends to release the bottom shuttle in each, yet the selector fingers restrict the escape of any shuttle except that in the magazine containing the proper color or character of filling to replace that which has been found deficient on the lay. Thus the desired shuttle is released and dropped on to the fingers I25 of the carrier at the exact moment when the carrier is positioned directly under the proper magazine in the course of the carrier's forward move- .ment. the carrier pause a moment in its forward move-- ment under each chute or magazine, to receive the dropping shuttle properly. 'I'he'cam I59 is made long enough to hold the arms II3 and'I I5 swung into releasing relation during its full forward travel, so that there will be no danger of effecting the release of two shuttles from the selected magazine as a result of a second and undesired releasing impulse given to the rocker connected with the magazine selected for delivery on the carriers return movement.

The carrier moves rearwardly, after releasing and receiving the selected shuttle, in such timed relation with respect to the conveyor 21 as to be slightly in advance of the conveyor in the simultaneous rearward travel of the two parts. In this connection, it is to be noted that the conveyor has its usual preliminary forward movement, so as to be forward of the carrier where the paths of the two intersect. Thus, as the carrier is coming to rest the conveyor overtakes it and though'traveling in an intersecting path picks the shuttle off from the fingers I25 without any jump or jar through engagementof the shoulders 45 on the conveyor with the bottom of the frontward side of the shuttle, the shuttle thereafter resting in the usual manner on the fingers 43 of the conveyor and being carried gently rearward under the raised front wall 33 of the shuttle-box and deposited within the latter. The conveyor thereupon returns forwardly to its normal resting position shown in Fig. 8,v and the carrier IIQ may remain in therearward positionoc'cupied by it when the shuttle Was taken from it by the conveyor. The replenishing cycle being completed,

the loom is automatically restarted and the weaving proceeds. The rockers I63 are free of the cams I59 on the carrier, and the shuttles in the several magazines remain supported by the long arms II3 of the various escapernent devices until need again arises to replenish deficient filling on the lay.

It is to be observed that the devices of the invention provide simple and accurate means for delivering shuttles containing filling of the proper character from magazines containing different kinds or colors of filling, without the need for moving the magazines in any way whatever, or for agitating their contents to any appreciable extent up to the actual moment when filling replenishment is taking place. This is a feature of great importance, as it saves an immense amount of wear and tear upon the shuttles as well as upon other parts incident to moving the filling supplies of diiferent colors or characteristics into register with a stationary delivery-chute or other device as has been tried in the past. Such latter arrangement has grave drawbacks, as can well be seen in the case of weaving patterns requiring constant shifting of the movable shuttle-boxes on the lay. In the present arrangement, the selector fingers I5 can be set to stand under the bottom shuttles of the respective magazines with a very slight clearance, so asnot to lift and lower and thus agitate the stack'of shuttles in assuming their delivery-preventing relation or moving clear of the shuttle to permit delivery. The support of the shuttles can thus be made tov fall wholly on the long arms H3 of the escapement devices, which have no motion whatever until replenishment of filling is in the act of being accom- The cam I 49, Fig. 6, is shaped to makev plished. Further, the arrangement of the escapement devices to move in horizontal planes in engaging and disengaging the shuttles reduces to a minimum the up-and-down agitation of the non-delivering magazines contents when replenishment does take place.

While the principles of the invention are illustrated in connection with a loom in which weft-replenishment is eifected through shuttlechanging, many of the provisions of the invention are applicable in connection with looms in which the weft-supply is represented by bobbins which are inserted in the shuttle while the latter is on the lay. Hence I do not contemplate the limitation of my invention to use in connection with shuttle-changers, and its provisions and scope whenever applicable are to be interpreted in this matter in the light of the claims appended hereto. I

What is claimed as the invention is:-

1. In a shuttle changing loom having a lay with a single shuttle box at the shuttle Changing end of the loom, a conveyor movable in a direction having a horizontal component toward the shuttle box to transfer a shuttle from the conveyor to the shuttle box, means to eject the spent shuttle from the shuttle box in a direction forwardly of the lay, a plurality of stationary groups of reserve shuttles, and a carrier movable in a direction having a horizontal component to convey a shuttle from any group to the conveyor, the conveyor thereafter effective to move the shuttle delivered by the carrier to the shuttle box. g

2. In a shuttle changing loom having a lay, a single shuttle box on the lay, a plurality of stationary groups of reserve shuttles, and means to move a shuttle from under any group to the shuttle box along a path the major component of which is horizontal, said means including two separate shuttle moving devices which engage the shuttle successively, one device moving the shuttle being changed into a position from which the other device conveys the shuttle to the box.

3. In a shuttle changing loom having a lay which remains at rest in rear position during the shuttle changing operation, a shuttle box on the lay, a plurality of stationary groups of reserve shuttles arranged in front of the lay, and means to move a shuttle from under any group into theshuttle box along a path the major component of which is horizontal, said means including two devices one of which moves under the groups to engage and deliver a shuttle ponent of which is horizontal, one of said devices moving a shuttle from under any group to the other device, and said other device thereafter moving the shuttle being changed across the path of the expelled depleted shuttle into the shuttle box.

5. In a shuttle changing loom having a lay provided with shifting shuttle boxes on one side and a shuttle box on the other side, a member to control the position of the shifting boxes relatively to the lay, a plurality of stationary groups of reserve shuttles on that side of the loom opposite the shifting boxes, connections from the member to said groups effective to release a shuttle from the group corresponding to the shuttle box in active position relatively to the lay, and means to convey a released shuttle to said shuttle box on the other side, said means including two devices one movable to deliver a released shuttle to the other device, and the latter moving the shuttle into the last named shuttle box, said devices movable to transport the shuttle along a path all parts of which have horizontal components.

6. A loom having in combination a lay, to stop in rear position to effect replenishment, a plurality of stationary shuttle magazines, an escapement device for delivering a single shuttle at a time from each magazine, selector mechanism restricting the delivery to a single magazine at a time, and means for transferring a shuttle from any magazine to the lay, including a transferring member which'actuates the escapement to effect delivery of a shuttle and thereafter perform its carrying operation.

'7. A loom having in combination a lay, stationary weft-supply magazines to supply reserve shuttles of distinctive wefts, a conveyor adapted to transfer the weft-supply to the lay, a carrier receiving the weft-supply from the magazines and delivering them to the conveyor, and devices in connection with the magazines to effect delivery of a weft-supply therefrom, actuated by the carrier after the latter is called into action, and selector mechanism preventing delivery from all but one of the magazines.

8. A'loom having in combination a lay, stationary weftsupply magazines to supply reserve shuttles of distinctive wefts, weft-supply delivering devices in connection with each magazine, including selector mechanism preventing delivery from all butone of the'magazines, a conveyor adapted to transfer a weft-supply to the lay, and a carrier actuating the delivery devices of the several magazines to receive a weft-supply from one thereof and transferring such weft-supply to the conveyor.

9. A loom having in combination a lay, a stationary shuttle magazine, a transferring member to transfer a shuttle to the lay, an escapement device comprising a member normally supporting the shuttles in the magazine, and a second member assuming'the support of the shuttles other than the bottom one as the first member terminates its supporting relation with the bottom shuttle, and an intermediate transferring member adapted to operate the escapement device and to deliver the bottom shuttle to the said transferring member.

10. A loom having in combination a lay, a shuttle magazine, a conveyor to transfer the shuttles to the lay, and a carrier movable in a path intersecting'that of the conveyor, to receive a shuttle from the magazine and deliver it to the conveyor.

11. A loom havingin combination a lay, a shuttle magazine, a conveyor totransfer the shuttles to the lay, and a carrier movable in a path converging with that of the conveyor, to place a shuttle taken from the magazine in the path of the conveyor for transfer to the lay.

12. In a shuttle changing loom having a lay, a shuttle magazine, a carrier to advance a shuttle from the magazine toward the lay, and. a conveyor movable 'ina path overlapping the 'path of movement of the carrier and effective to take the shuttle from the carrier and transfer said shuttle to the lay.

13. A loom having in combination a lay, a shuttle magazine, a conveyor to transfer the shuttles to the lay, and a carrier having an upward movement to receive a shuttle from the magazine, and a downward movement to deliver it to the conveyor.

14. In a multicolor shuttle changing loom, a lay having a shuttle box on one end of the lay, a plurality of stationary groups of reserve shuttles, each group of reserve shuttles having distinctive weft, selective means to determine from which group a reserve shuttle is to be drawn, means to expel a depleted shuttle from the shuttle box forwardly with respect to the lay, and means thereafter to insert into the box a fresh shuttle drawn from a selected group of reserve shuttles.

15. A loom having in combination, a lay, a stationary magazine to supply reserve shuttles of different kinds, means to transfer a reserve shuttle from the magazine to the lay, escapement devices to deliver a reserve shuttle corresponding to the depleted active shuttle from the magazine, each device actuated into delivering relation whenever transfer to the lay is to be effected, and means actuated independently of the escapement devices to select the reserve shuttle which is drawn from the magazine, I

16. A loom having in combination, a lay, a plurality of stationary reserve shuttle magazines, 8. transferring member to transfer a reserve shuttle from any magazine to the lay, delivery mechanism for each magazine including means to supportv and release the bottom reserve shuttle, and devices to support the remaining reserve shuttles while said means is inoperative for this purpose, the combination having provision for varying the relative times of operation of the said means and the said supporting devices.

17 A loom having in combination, a lay, a plurality of stationary magazines each having reserve shuttles, means to select which magazine is to furnish a reserve shuttle, transferring means acting to transfer a reserve shuttle from the selected magazine to the lay, and separate inde pendently operable devices in connection with each magazine to effect delivery of a shuttle therefrom, actuated by the transferring means after the latter is called into action.

18. A loom' having in combination, a lay, a plurality of stationary reserve shuttle magazines, selecting means to select a shuttle from any one of the magazines, and means for transferring the selected shuttle from its magazine to the lay, including a transferring member adapted to receive and carry a single shuttle from any of the magazines, and to effect the delivery of the shuttle from the magazine as well as performing its carrying operation. 1

' 19. A loom having in combination, a lay, a plurality of stationary reserve shuttle magazines, an escapement device for delivering a reserve shuttle from each magazine, selector means to determine which magazine is to deliver a reserve shuttle through its escapement device, and means common to the magazines'for transferring a reserve shuttle from the selected magazine to the lay, including a carrier which actuates the escape"- ment devices to effect delivery of a reserve shuttle, and a conveyor receiving the reserve shuttle from the carrier and transferring it to the lay.

20. In a loom having in combination, 'a lay, a

plurality of stationary reserve shuttle magazines, a convevor common to the magazines adapted to 7 devices in connection with each magazine actuated by the transferring means to release the bottom reserve shuttle and uphold the rest of the reserve shuttles in a magazine, and means controlled independently of the transferring means for releasing and restraining such bottom reserve shuttle.

22. In a multicolor shuttle changing loom, a

lay moving back and forth between given rear and forward positions and coming to rest in rear position at the time of shuttle change, a magazine to hold a plurality of substantially vertical stacks of shuttles having wefts of different types and having a discharge opening common to the different stacks of shuttles, said stacks being at different horizontal distances from the rear position of the lay, and means to transfer a shuttle derived from any of said stacks to the lay when the latter is at rest in itsv rear position.

23. In a multicolor shuttle changing loom, a lay movable back and forth in the loom and brought to rest in rear position at the time of shuttle change, a magazine having a plurality of groups of reserve shuttles, the shuttles of each group having wefts distinctive from that of any other group, means defining a normally empty compartment which is adjacent all of said groups, means effective to cause movement of a shuttle from any of said groups into said compartment, and mechanism additional to and independent of the last-named means to transfer a shuttle from said compartment to said lay when the latter is at rest in its rearmost position.

24. In a shuttle changing loom which stopsv running with the lay in rear position to effect shuttle change, a magazine having two substantially vertical compartments separated by a partition, said partition having an opening at its lower end, and weft controlled means to move a shuttle through said opening from one compartment to the other of said magazine upon indication of substantial weft exhaustion of a corresponding shuttle, the partition terminating above the path of movement of the shuttle which moves into said other compartment, the weft end extending from a shuttle moving to said other compartment passing under the partition and extending rearwardly toward the lay in its position of rest.

25. In a multicolor shuttle changing loom which stops running with the lay in rearward position to effect shuttle change, a plurality of shifting shuttle boxes, a reserve shuttle magazine, means to indicate weft exhaustion in any shuttle in the shifting boxes prior to a shifting thereof, and mechanism controlled. by said means to replace the exhausted shuttle by a shuttle from the magazine during the interval between the first and second picks following the shift of shuttle boxes and while the lay is at rest.

' 26. In a multicolor shuttle changing loom which stops running with the lay in rearward position to effect shuttle change, shifting shuttle boxes operating with a plurality of shuttles any one of which may become active, means to indicate exhaustion in any or the shuttles in the shifting boxes, a magazine having different types of reserve shuttles corresponding to the shuttles of the shifting boxes, the exhaustion indicating mechanism effective on a given pick to indicate exhaustion of a given shuttle, and means acting during the interval between the first and second picks following the shift of shuttle boxes and while the lay is at rest to replace the indicated to effect shuttle change, shifting shuttle boxes operating with a plurality of shuttles any one of which may become active, a multicolor magazine capable of supplying shuttles of various wefts corresponding to the shuttles in the drop boxes, means to indicate exhaustion of weft prior to the time of picking the active shuttle from the shifting boxes, means effective during the beat of the loom when the exhausted shuttle is picked away from the shifting boxes to move a shuttle similar to the exhausted shuttle from the magazine to the lay while the latter is at rest, and means when the lay next reaches the picking position to pick the fresh shuttle toward the shifting shuttle boxes.

28; A loom having in combination, a lay, a shuttle box in active picking position on the lay, reserve shuttle magazines, means for detecting deficiency of the weft supply upon the lay, a selecting device to determine the magazine next to deliver a shuttle, and a transferring member common to; the several magazines and effective to deliver a shuttle from the selected magazine upon detection of deficiency of the said weft supply upon the lay, and means acting to transfer such weft supply from the member into the shuttle box.

29. A loom having in combination a lay, a shuttle box in active picking position on the lay, a plurality of reserve shuttle magazines, a transferring member acting to advance a shuttle from the magazines toward the shuttle box, and devices in connection with each magazine actuated by the transferring member to effect delivery of a shuttle after the member is called into action.

LEWIS S. VOSE. 

